Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| grenier | /ɡʁə.nje/ | masculine |
| combles | /kɔ̃bl/ | masculine, plural |
| mansarde | /mɑ̃.saʁd/ | feminine |
In French, the word you choose depends on whether you are describing a storage area, a structural space or a specific type of room. grenier is used for a storage attic, often used for keeping old items or junk. combles refers specifically to the structural space or the volume under the roof, often used in architecture or real estate. The related adjective attique refers to something from or related to Attica.
Which one should you use?
While grenier refers to the functional use of an attic as a storage space, combles refers specifically to the structural space under the roof. Furthermore, mansarde specifically refers to an attic with a sloping roof.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Belgium, the term le galetas is commonly used to refer to an attic. In some rural areas of France, the phrase le grenier à foin is used specifically to mean a hay loft.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
grenier is a masculine noun. combles is a masculine noun that is used in its plural form. mansarde is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
The word grenier is pronounced /ɡʁə.nje/ and consists of two syllables.
Did you know?
- The term mansarde is actually an eponym, named after the famous 17th-century French architect François Mansart.
- The French adjective attique refers to the region of Attica in Greece, making it a false friend to the English word 'attic'.
Examples in context
- Je suis au grenier.I'm in the attic.This sentence is useful for stating your location in the grenier.Tatoeba #2000803 by sacredceltic, translation #1891005 by CK
- Je l'ai mis au grenier.I put it in the attic.This sentence is useful for describing where an object was placed in the grenier.Tatoeba #11918012 by lbdx, translation #9234583 by CK
- Tom se cache au grenier.Tom is hiding in the attic.This sentence is useful for describing someone hiding in the grenier.Tatoeba #7561161 by tras, translation #7544496 by CK
- Quand j'étais enfant, je jouais souvent dans le grenier de ma grand-mère.When I was a child, I used to play in my grandmother's attic.
- La mansarde de cette maison est très spacieuse.The attic of this house is very spacious.
- Nous avons entreposé les vieilles affaires au comble de la maison.We stored the old belongings in the attic of the house.
- Les agriculteurs utilisent encore souvent le grenier à foin pour stocker les récoltes.Farmers often still use the hay loft to store their crops.
- 35 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé and Lucas are cleaning their house.
- ChloéOù sont les vieux cartons, Lucas ?Where are the old boxes, Lucas?
- LucasIls sont rangés dans le grenier.They are stored in the attic.
- ChloéEst-ce que le grenier est propre ?Is the attic clean?
- LucasNon, il y a beaucoup de poussière.No, there is a lot of dust.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “attic” translations and entries grenier, combles, mansarde, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries grenier, mansarde, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
